Francis Paul Cullen: Victims speak of how they suffered at hands of former Derby priest, by Martin Naylor, Derby Telegraph (March 24, 2014)

Francis Paul Cullen: Victims speak of how they suffered at hands of former Derby priest

VICTIMS of former Derby priest Francis Paul Cullen - due to be sentenced today for child sex offences - have been making their voices heard in court.

The 85-year-old, who was parish priest at Christ the King, in Mackworth, from 1960 to 1978, has pleaded guilty to 21 sexual abuse offences in February.

Four of his victims were altar boys during his time in Derby and he will be sentenced at Derby Crown Court today.

Sarah Knight, prosecuting, has this morning spent more than an hour outlining the case.

After the full details of what Cullen did to his seven victims was given out out in court, Miss Knight read "victim impact statements" from each of them.

One of his Mackworth victims, a man who is now 61, said in his statement: "I can forgive but I can never forget."

A second Derby victim, who is now 58, and was abused from the age of eight, had given a hand-written note to the prosecution.

It said: "You said you had a calling from God when you joined the priesthood. You were correct - you had a calling but it was from the devil and I hope you get to meet your Maker.

"That first kiss you gave me opened up a Pandora's box and, when I was eight years old, you took my innocence away from me."

In 1991, Cullen was arrested and charged with separate offences in Nottingham but he jumped bail and went on the run for 20 years.

Derbyshire police and the Catholic Diocese in Nottingham tracked him down to Tenerife, where he was living. Spanish police then extradited him.

Three of the victims have been in court for the sentencing.